Lever operated gun with vertically slidable breech block



W. B. MORRIS May 19, 1953 LEVER OPERATED GUN WITH VERTICALLY SLIDABLEBREECH BLOCK Filed May 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l WM. 8. MORRIS INVENTORATTORNEY W. B. MORRIS May 19, 1953 LEVER OPERATED GUN WITH VERTICALLYSLIDABLE BREECH BLOCK Filed May 15, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WM 8. MORRISINVENTOR ATTORNEY LEVER OPERATED GUN WITH VERTICALLY SLIDABLE BREECHBLOCK Filed May 15, 1950 W- B. MORRIS May 19, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WM.B. MORRIS INVENTOR MW ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1953 Lgvsa OPERATED GUNvsmieswt SLIDABLE' BREEOR BLQGK' whims Mew ee was, a p ase WW1? seemssms fiflsims This inventien relates to firearms havin magazines forcarrying cartridges, and hastenerene to rifles having levie'r operatedcartridge loading, seeking and ease extracting mechas nisms. certainfeatures ef the invention are net limited to lever operated rifles,butinay he used in various tyiies of rifles and guns.

Ah object of the inveh-tion'is' to rovide a lever operated rifle capableef firing ammunition haw ing hig'l'ier pressures than present repeatinglever rifles! i Another object of the inventisn is t0 provide a nine ofthe referred te-b'lass having a shatter over' all lerigthfwheremebarrel'and stock are efstandard lengths, tot more eonv enieht handli'ng.i

Another object of the inventien is t provide a hater operated rifle ogun canstpuetieh where by the aetien, articularly the seaward movementof the carrier, does nut intrie'ie with the preferred butt stock" eehstru'etien and shape.

Another objeet and feature has to chi with imprdvements' iii a dropping(vertieal aetieg hreeeh'bloek mechanism; ass ne eessa rily limited to"lever operates rises, whereby high press re eamiclges may b fires withgreatera'ceuragy, aim yet provide fer extraetien at the expanded cases.a i i A particular ehj est at the inventier i is $6 previde a noveltum'pelt eenstruetien and arrarigemeiit for eoact'ien hetwee i astepping ufse'sh block and an operating lever whereby the ada-ntages ofa lever dperated gun iii-i13 be used in aceumplishin the foregoingubje-e'ts.

Another object oi'the invention is ts pr tivide adropping breech blockwhich may be shatter than the length of the caiftridg fer Gat'tyifig'out the preceding object.

A further object hi the invention is to pr'civili'e atumboltconstruetiun as reta ned ta and so scated as to sccsmmedate a maazine in the gun frame.

A further object at the invention is to rimvide an ex ac adaptfid tosupport the mm 91 a.rimless," semis-rimmed, qr rimmed typ'le cartridgehead, and which extractor is, 23st) supperted to resist the lateral.forces of the explosion within the Veartridge. The portionof thecartridge rirn not engaged by the extractor is alse' engaged andsummarized hy the chamber at the barrel.

A fiutthfir Qhl'eetis ts pmvide a trigger" mechanism entimely carried bythe lever and Whenetiy the neunting there'uf is less difficult and lessexpensive as eamp'areci with t gg mechanisms ntQW-tefii in; the: trams,at

A furthr Qhjsctctlf the inventiqn is td Drovid a safetstmeehanism inwhich the trigger sea: is moved toincrease. its surface area in contactwith the gun seat: when the safety mechanism is on, as dominated withthe contacting area b.63- twelen said sears when the gun is rlady tofire.

A stillfuntheii abject of the invention is t0 previde a safety mechanismand arrangement whereby the sun seat is lucked when the lever. ispartially openefi or extended.

The invention will he mote readily undrstuugi by reference to theaecdmiianying drawings and fdllqwing desdriptiuix.

Figui ei 1' is a broken elevatimiand semifinal view at a' rifle autiunembodying. the features of this present invention.

Figure Z'is a; hfidlsen elevatien and sectional view (If the magazine ofthe rifle illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transvetse sectional taken GI: line's fies-"3 (if Eiguf 2,but showing the breech block rammed.

Figure s is a hrdken perspective sit the" title iliustrated in-Eigui'el, and showing the: action in its open position.

Figure 5. is a plan View? cifiths turning belt and breechhldela t Figure6. is a sectienal view taken on lines of Figure 5.-

Figure l is a bxolsen elvatidn 0f the near; end 9f. the, breech bicik,viewes trlom the opposite side from that shown in Eigun I, and showingthe relativepositinn at the hacking pieces when the. breech 101601; isin its luwermost positien.

Figure 8; is an enlazfg'ed perspective view of the cartridge catfish andshaming the same attached to the lever ariii, arid adciitionally shew-mgthe barrelhI-'eah in broken section axis in its reistive pbsitidn with"respect to the iztraeteia Fsguse Q is a whiten: sersiseetiv'e'tiw ofthe forward end at the carrier arid showin its ehsagement with the himat the castings head;

. Figure 10 is a plan view of the ciftfidg 'afriei and shqvlii'ng thesame ejecting a: fireiil d'ase.

Fi ure u is an and view 6f the Hamel useeh a s sl t therem taaacammodate the extract-(ii.

Figure 12 is a" fndnt-ltiersfiectite view. of the b sech black andcmiti'idge carriem'. Figure 13 is a brekn scticmal view of the tri gerand saiety mechanism and showing their relation to-the sun seas I Figu e161 is a seetimial View taken (in; lines its-1s o Figure 13. Else use:illustrated in memes 1 meludes bar- :61- Hi, strains n, was stasis l8;tiigethei with a receiver |9 mounted above said frame. The barrel I6 isthreadedly engaged in the forward end of the receiver I9, and the stock|8 is secured to the rear end of the frame by means of a stock bolt 2|.The receiver i9 is secured to the frame I! by means of screws 22 in themanner illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. Within the rearwardly projectingtang 23 of the f rame ll there is a linking arm-2 having an elongatedslot 25 in one end through which'a pin 26 passes, and which pin issecured to the sides of the frame IT. A

" between said spacer and the' end; of said slot; The end of the linkingarm 24 opposite the pin 26 is slotted to receive a projection 29-integral with the operating lever 30. Pivotal connection between thelinking arm 24 and the lever projection 29 is provided by means of ascrew 3 I. The lever 30 extends downwardly and through an opening'32 inthe lower portion-of the frame IT, and includes a handle 33 having ahand opening 34. Forwardly of the handle 33 there is a trigger uard 35,and the upper end of the lever30 is provided with an integral forwardlyprojecting lever arm 36. The forward end of the lever arm 36is receivedwithin a cavity 31 in a cartridge carrier 36 and is pivotally secured"thereto by means of a pin 39. The-sides of the carrier 38 are providedwith longitudinal tongues 40 which slidably engage longitudinal grooves4| in opposite sides of the receiver I9. As shown in Figure 8,'thetongues 40 are cut away intermediate. their ends so as to accommodatethelever arm attaching pin 33. As shown in Figure 1, the forward end ofthe'elever arm 36 is provided with a cam 42 for hearing against a thrustpin 43 slidably mounted and forwardly directed in front .of the carrier38. As will become apparent, the action of the cam 42 on the'pin 43 hasto do with initially dislodging the cartridge 44 from the cartridgechamber 45. The last described action is carried out by means of a clawtype extractor 46, as shown in detail in Figures 1 and s. It will benoted that the inner surface 41 of the extractor '46, between theforward end of the carrier 38 and the inwardly projecting claw 48 bearsagainst the rim 49 of the cartridge head 58. of the extractor 46 Binsliding contact with the surface of a cavity 5| in the breech of thebarrel ;|6. .As shown in Figures 8, 9. and 12, the extractor is arcuateas viewed from the forward end and comprises substantially 90 degrees.It will also be noted that the inner point of the claw 48 does-notnecessarily contact the groove '52 of the cartridge head 56: Thecartridge rim 49 is completely chambered and in'contact with the barrelchamber 45 except where it is in contact with the supported extractor46; thus, the rim 49 is completely supported against the ex- The outersurface 1 i of the breech blockv 62.

panding pressures of theexplosion within the ures 4,5, and 6. The turnboltassembly 53 includes a tubular sleeve 54 including an enlargedforward end 55. Another or forward tubular sleeve 56 is slidablyreceived within the enlarged end 55 of the first referred to sleeve, and

there'is a relatively strong compression spring 5! within said enlargedend for urging the first described sleeve 54 rearwardlyilongitudinalslot 58: in the :enlarged .sleeve' end 55, .acco ninm.

dates a lateral projection 59 integral with the last described sleeve56, and which projection includes an extending arm 60 having a roundhand bar 6| integral with its outer end. It will be noted that the lastdescribed bar 8| is parallel with the sleeve 56, and that the saidsleeve and arm 60 comprise means for raising and lowering asubstantially vertically operating breech block 62, 'to'be described.Asshown inFigure 6, the slot 58 is wider than the projection 59 isthick, and whereby a delayed operating action is accomplished whenraising and lowering the breech block 62. The sleeves 54 and 56 arepivotally mounted on a pin 63 supported in opposing 15' transverse walls64 of the frame I1. Near the rearward end of the rearward sleeve 54there is a-laterally projecting lug 65 adapted to engage an opening 66in the lever 3|). During operation of the lever 38, it is apparent thatthe opening 66 will completely disengage the projection 65, but byreason of the spring 51 and the frictional engagement of the ends of thesleeves 54 and 56 on the frame walls. the projection 65 will remain'inposition for re-engaging the opening 66. 'The surface of the lever 30opposite the projection 65 is relieved, as at 61, to accommodate thereferred to re-engagement;

The .breech block 62 includes a rectangular body 68 having a verticalrecess 69 in its lower surface arranged to accommodate the arm 68 of thehand assembly. Opposing recesses 10, formed in the sides of the firstrecess 69, slidably and rotatably receive the lifting bar 8| for raisingand lowering the breech block 62. The forward end ofthe breech block 62has substantially vertical projections 1| on each side which slidablyoperate in corresponding grooves 12 in the forward end of the receiverl9. The breech block body 68 is longitudinally drilled and reamed toaccommodate a striker 13 which includes a secured flange 14 near itsforward end, and a pin 15 integral with said striker normally projectsoutis provided with a drilled closure 16 which slidably accommodates thestriker 13. A main spring 11 is coiled about the striker 13, bearsagainst the striker flange l4. and against the closure 16, which issecured in place. -A cocking piece 18 is secured to the rearward end ofthe striker l3 and projects downwardly where it is provided with a guide19 which is slidably received within the rearward end A lateralprojection integral with the upper end of the cocking piece 18 isarranged to engage the rear surface of an arcuate flange 8| integralwith the enlarged portion 55 of the turn bolt sleeve 54. When the turnbolt projection 65 is raised, a cam 82 on the surface of the sleeve 54contacts a projection 83 integral with the receiver l9, and compressesthe turn bolt spring 51 and moves the flange 8| forwardly.

"Referring now to Figures 1, 4 and '7, there is an L-shaped gun sear 84pivotally mounted on avertical bracket 65 supported bythe frame IT. Theforward leg 86 of the sear 84 is provided with a laterally projectinglug 81 arranged for coaction with an opposingly arranged lug 88 integralwith the lower end of the cooking piece 18. The upper and lower'edges ofboth lug 87 and 88 are beveled in opposite directions, and as willbecome apparent, and have to do with quickly releasing the cooking piece18. A pin 89 mounted on the bracket limits the forward movement of thelower leg 90 of the-gun sear 84. A hairpin the turn bolt projection 65,but the latter is maintained in its downwardly position by reason of thefrictional engagement of the-ends of the turnlbolt sleeves 54 and 56against the frame walls 64. As the lever 30 is closed, the. slot 68re-engages the turn bolt projection 65. and causes the hand rod 6| toraise the breech block 62. At this time the opposing beveled surfaces onthe lugs 88 and 81 of the cocking piece 18 and gun sear 84,respectively, engage each other and additionally move said cocking piecerearwardly. At this time the trigger sear 93 engages the depending-leg90 of the gun sear 84. Just before the lever 30 is completely closed,the sleeve projection 82 engages the cam 83, causing the turn boltflange ill to move forwardly. When the lever 30 is completely closed thetriangular lug 94 on the said lever is positioned to clear theprojection 91 onthe gun sear leg 90. The action is now cocked and readyto fire.

If desired, the safety lever ll may be pivoted rearwardly causing itsupper projection I to engage the projection I06 on the trigger 92. Thelast described operation not onlylocks the trigger mechanism but has theadditional effect of raising the trigger sear 93 whereby the area of itsend surface is increased where it contacts the surface of the gun searleg 90. To release the safety mechanism the safety lever MI is movedforwardly and the action of the spring I010; beneath the trigger sear 93moves the latter downwardly although it remains in contact with the searleg 90 until the trigger 92 is manually operated.

As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 12, an ejection port cover may be providedin the form of an elongated plate H8 which is substantially in the formof an inverted U in its rearward cross section and having a forwardlydirected side whereby the same may be attached, such as by screws H9 tooneside of the breech block body 68. Asthe breech block is lowered andraised the ejection port is opened and closed. It is to be understoodthat the plate H8 is shaped to avoid contact with the described partscontained within the receiver l9.

The presentinvention is not limited to the specific constru'ction hereinshown and described, but may be made in many ways within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. In a'gun action including a'breechblock near the barrel breech; arotatable turn bolt parallel withand disposed laterally in spacedrelationship from the axis of said barrel breech, and at least oneprojection on said turn bolt arranged for coaetion with said breechblock.

2. In a gun action including adroppin breech block adjacent the barrelbreech, a rotatable turn bolt parallel with and disposed laterally inspaced relationship fromthe axis of said barrel breech,

block adjacent the barrel breech, and including a spring loaded firingpin normally projecting forwardly from said breech block, a rotatableturn bolt parallel with and disposed laterally in spaced relationshipfrom the axis of said barrel breech, a projection on said turn boltconnected with said breech block and constructed and arranged forraising and lowering the latter, and cam means carried by said turn boltfor retracting said firing pin.

5; In an extractor for removing a fired case from a barrel chamber, ashank having a claw integral with its forward end and arranged to engagethe rim of said case to be extracted, the inner surface of said shankbeing in contact with the rim of the fired case and means supporting theouter surface of said shank being in contact with the rim of the firedcase and means supporting the outer surface of said shank.

6'. In a gun action, a dropping breech block adjacent the barrel breech,a turn bolt parallel with and disposed laterally in spaced relationshipfrom the axis of said barrel breech, a projection extending from saidturn bolt and arranged for connection with said breech block for raisingand lowering the latter, a second projection extending from said turnbolt, a lever mounted in said gun action, and including an openingtherein arranged for engaging the last said projection.

7. In a gun action, the combination of a breech block adapted to closethe barrel breech, a rotatable turn bolt parallel with and disposedlaterally in spaced relationship from the axis of said barrel breech,and a projection on said turn bolt constructed and arranged for lockingsaid breech block in its described position relative to said barrelbreech.

8. In a gun action, the combination of a dropping breech block includinga firing pin, striker and cocking piece assembly and having means in theforward end thereof for locking the same adjacent a barrel breech, arotatable turn bolt parallel with the axis of said barrel breech anddisposed laterally in spaced relationship from said axis and from saidbreech block, a lever mounted in said gun action, means carried by saidturn bolt and engaging said breech block for raising and lowering thelatter on rotation of said turn bolt, means carried by said turn boltcooperating with the cocking piece of said assembly for retracting saidfiring pin on rotation of said'turn bolt, and means carried by said turnbolt adapted to engage said lever for rotation of said turn boltresponsive to the action of said lever.

WILLIAM B. MORRIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 229,035 Finch June 22, 1880 557,358 Burgess Mar. 31, 18962,098,562 Browning Nov. 9, 1937 2,386,543 Collins Oct. 9, 1945 2,451,003Syrjala Oct. 12, 1948 2,462,889 Neidhardt Mar. 1, 1949 2,465,553Robinson Mar. 29, 1949 2,474,180 Browning June 21, 1949 2,484,694 DickeOct. 11, 1949 2,505,760 Garand May 2, 1950 2,539,554 Sampson et al. Jan.30, 1951

